Ohio University’s Army ROTC cadets to fly north for field training

Cadets in Ohio University’s Army ROTC program will take part in hands-on experiential learning on Oct. 20-23, as they travel north to Ravenna, Ohio for field training exercise at the Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, an Ohio National Guard training site. 

On Thursday, Oct. 20, two CH-47 Chinook helicopters will land and take off from Ohio University’s Gordon K. Bush Airport near Albany, Ohio, as they transport 40 junior class cadets to the field training exercise. 

Each fall the Army ROTC Bobcat Battalion executes a field training exercise, planned by senior cadets, which allows freshman-junior cadets to utilize skills they have learned from their military science classes and leadership labs throughout the semester. 

At the Joint Military Training Center, the OHIO ROTC junior class cadets will take a written land navigation test and start mission planning for upcoming patrolling lanes. The rest of the Battalion will travel to the training by bus early Friday morning and participate in marksmanship qualification on the range or testing at the Field Leader’s Reaction Course (obstacle course). All cadets will be tested on their land navigational skills, plotting and finding points in the daytime and at night. 

On Saturday, all cadets will execute numerous patrolling missions at the platoon level, working as a team and being evaluated on the leadership attributes and competencies that they exhibit. 

Major Troy Lovely, professor of military science said the goal of the weekend’s training event is to build confidence in each cadet’s skill base and boost morale within the ranks, leading the cadets to work as a cohesive unit on and off the field. 

“This training is vital for the junior cadets that are preparing for attendance at advanced camp next summer and all cadets should gain the knowledge and leadership skills that will pay dividends for them in their future careers,” Lovely said.